We’ll pay pensioners, says Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Government has pledged to pay all outstanding entitlements to pensioners.

It condemned moves by some unscrupulous elements to defraud the state by capitalising on the uncoordinated manner the payment was done in the past.

The government said it has put machinery in place to ensure that outstanding gratuities, most of which were inherited from past administrations, are paid.

In a statement, the governor’s media aide, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said while the government sympathises with the affected pensioners, it was uncomfortable with their subtle threat.

The pensioners had given the government a two-week ultimatum to pay their entitlements.

Iworiso-Markson said: “We assure our pensioners for the umpteenth time that we are concerned about their plight and the government is working assiduously to ensure prompt payment of outstanding gratuities.

“We have before us the report of the committee instituted by the government to look into the matter and will soon take actions that will be in the interest of not just the pensioners, but the state as a whole.

“We urge genuine pensioners to be patient with the government, as all their entitlements would be paid to the last kobo. We will do the right thing.

“The issue of non-payment of pensioners’ gratuities predates this administration. In fact, records in the Government House clearly show that pensioners were last paid in 2005.

“It is one of the several liabilities and challenges that this administration inherited from past administrations and it will not be fair for the pensioners to pin this problem on us.

“It is glaring that we are making spirited efforts to right the wrongs of past administrations, since government is a continuum. Our resolve to plug all loopholes and corrupt channels used to siphon money out of the state should be encouraged by all.

“It will surprise you that most of the N3.5 billion unpaid gratuities claims were cooked up. Upon verification, a number of names on the list were fictitious.

“We cannot continue to condone the perpetration of fraud by syndicates, who are bent on defrauding the system by exploiting the greed of a few corrupt civil servants.

“As far as this administration is concerned, it is no longer business as usual. Every fraud in the system will be flushed out and the culprits will face the music.”